Development of advanced cardiac progenitor cell culture system through fibronectin and vitronectin derived peptide coated plate

•Innovative Culture System: Developed an advanced cardiac progenitor cell culture system using fibronectin and vitronectin-derived peptide-coated plates.•Enhanced Cell Growth: Demonstrated improved cell adhesion, proliferation, and differentiation of cardiac progenitor cells compared to traditional culture methods.•Comprehensive Optimization: Optimized peptide coating concentration and conditions to maximize efficiency and reproducibility.•Potential Clinical Applications: Provides a promising platform for cardiac tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. Cardiovascular disease remains a global health concern. Stem cell therapy utilizing human cardiac progenitor cells (hCPCs) shows promise in treating cardiac vascular disease. However, limited availability and senescence of hCPCs hinder their widespread use. To address these challenges, researchers are exploring innovative approaches. In this study, a bioengineered cell culture plate was developed to mimic the natural cardiac tissue microenvironment. It was coated with a combination of extracellular matrix (ECM) peptide motifs and mussel adhesive protein (MAP). The selected ECM peptide motifs, derived from fibronectin and vitronectin, play crucial roles in hCPCs. Results revealed that the Fibro-P and Vitro-P coated plates significantly improved hCPC adhesion, proliferation, migration, and differentiation compared to uncoated plates. Additionally, long-term culture on the coated plates delayed cellular senescence and maintained hCPC stemness. These enhancements were attributed to the activation of integrin downstream signaling pathways. The findings suggest that the engineered ECM peptide motif-MAP-coated plates hold potential for enhancing the therapeutic efficacy of stem cell-based therapies in cardiac tissue engineering and regenerative medicine.